Geno Smith officially flips from Jets to Giants

Geno Smith watches the Jets play the Ravens from the sideline on Oct. 23 after suffering a right knee injury. The next day it would be revealed that Smith's season was over because he had a torn ACL.(Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

For the first time in his NFL career, the former Jets quarterback is going into a season satisfied with his role as a backup.

The fact that Eli Manning is the quarterback at the top of the depth chart can do a lot to alter a player’s perspective, even those who pride themselves on competing to be considered the best.

Manning has started a league-best 211 consecutive games, playoffs included, and that is the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history. Last season represented the fifth time Manning, now 36, threw every pass in a season for the Giants since taking the starting job from now-Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner on Nov. 21, 2004.

“We expect that to continue,” Smith said of Manning’s streak in a team release announcing his signing with the Giants on Monday. “I’m not coming aboard expecting anything else. This is definitely an opportunity for me to learn and to get better. I want to carry my notepad around, and whatever I see Eli doing, whether it’s in the classroom, on the field or off the field, I want to write it down. Because he’s a guy you can model yourself after. If you learn from a guy like that, we can all do a lot better.”

Smith, 26, started one game for the Jets in place of Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2016 but tore the ACL in his right knee in that game. Smith has completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He has good size and is a good athlete with a strong arm. But inaccuracy has led to turnovers and questions about his decision making.

With the Giants, the issue is not whether Smith can emerge as an option to one day become Manning’s successor. His one-year deal is worth up to $2 million, and the challenge is to prove he can be a more versatile backup than veteran Josh Johnson, who re-signed Friday.

“I think the opportunity to learn from [quarterbacks] coach [Frank] Cignetti, coach [Ben] McAdoo, and to be alongside Eli and learn from him, a two-time Super Bowl champion and, in my opinion, a Hall of Fame quarterback,” Smith said. “I think it will work out tremendously for me. And it’s also an opportunity to be on a real good team, a winning team, get healthy — it’s just a perfect scenario for me. I couldn’t have written it up any better myself.”

Smith will likely be limited once the team’s off-season conditioning program opens next month, but the Giants are hopeful his recovery will continue to go smoothly so that he is ready for more work in training camp.

“Right now, it’s doing great,” Smith said. “We’re being cautious. But I’m at that stage where I’m feeling healthy enough that I can push it. But I have to be smart about it and not do anything that will cause me setbacks.”

Smith expressed confidence in his future, yet not without repeating a clear understanding of his present.

“I have tons of good football ahead,” he said. “The key is just staying healthy. If I can just stay healthy, the future is pretty bright. But I just look forward to this year and having an opportunity to get healthy and learn and become a better quarterback.”